Santorini, one of the most picturesque destinations in the world, where not only tourists looking for beautiful settings and picture perfect views come, but also couples in the search for special wedding venues flock to.
I honestly don’t remember exactly how we ended up vacationing on the island, but I know I had seen way before that, hundreds of pictures and impressions about Santorini island, thus my expectations were really high.

The Greek island did not fail to deliver! The views, the food, the sunsets, the beautiful white buildings nestled on the top of very steep rocks, the volcano, and the caldera, everything comes together in order to create one of the most romantic places on Earth. After one week in this place, I totally understood why so many plan vacations here even way in advance and come from all over the world, on this tiny island, unlike so many others.

You could drive from one end to the other in just a couple of hours, but even so, you could also spend weeks here (preferably outside of the high season) and still discover something new every day. Thus, here is my 5-day itinerary for Santorini Island.

Day 1 on Santorini

Depending on the time you arrive on the island, take your time to settle in, explore the hotel you’ve chosen, its surroundings and best places in town.

It won’t be hard to find a place with delicious Greek food and some stunning views, in Santorini those are everywhere. Use this day to relax after the trip and settle in. You can also ask for information about potential excursions and day trips from the island.

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Day 2 on Santorini

Start getting to know the island and discover all the interesting places it has to offer, either by taking an island tour or simply by renting a scooter and doing it on your own. We opted for the first version, but if you more of a free spirit and you don’t like tight schedules, it’s always easier to go by yourself.

Since they are relatively close to each other, mix in together the small village of Megalochori and the archeological site of Akrotiri.

Megalochori will seduce you for sure. I really loved this small village in the Southern part of the island, and walking on its streets made me you feel like I’ve stepped into the past, in a very traditional Greece. Narrow streets, white buildings filled with flowers, lower prices. Does that sound good quite yet?

If you are still hungry for information, Akrotiri will offer your history does – home of the Minoans, this village was evacuated somewhere around 1700 BC, when the volcano erupted and covered the island with ash. Thus, the archeological site has been kept very well throughout the many years and will have the chance to learn a lot of interesting facts.

In between these two you can also stop by at the Red Beach of Santorini, where you will want to take some pictures of the interesting red soil, but not necessarily take a bath or spend time sunbathing.

Day 3 on Santorini

Since you’ve had a full day yesterday, choose to spend the first part of the 3rd day on the beach (or by the pool, depending on which side of the island you are staying).

Interrupt your sunbathing and dive into a sumptuous lunch. In Santorini, you will find plenty of restaurants with delicious seafood platters, fresh fish, and enormous portions. Just don’t expect it to be cheap, but it will all sure be delicious!

In the afternoon, plan a getaway for a wine tasting session and dinner at Santo Winery, where you will get some of the best views over the caldera on the island. On the island, the soil and weather offer the best conditions for certain kind of wines to be produced and you definitely need to try some. Book a table way in advance and sit back and enjoy the breathtaking view with a glass (or many) of one of the best Greek wines there is.

Day 4 on Santorini

Wake up early in the morning and prepare yourself for one full day of exploration.

Head to the port and head towards Nea Kameni Island – the island with the actual volcano. You will have the chance of taking the boat here and spending a whole day on the sea, climb the volcano, take a bath in the hot springs close by. Make sure to bring appropriate shoes for climbing and some water, because the island is very arid and there won’t be any shade for you to hide.

Once the trip to the volcano is over, you most probably will visit the small island torn from Santorini when the volcano erupted, Thirasia. Climb the hill and go up in the village where you can visit the Church of Profitis Ilias and the Kimissi Monastery, or simply stay in Korfos where you can eat something at one of the few tavernas. A visit here is interesting, because the little island is so different than Santorini, not crowded and almost stuck in the past.

Day 5 on Santorini

Dedicate another morning at the beach only o head to town in the second part of the day. Blend in together Thira, the capital of the island, and Oia where you will want to watch the sunset from.

Since this is your last day in Santorini, splurge with a glamorous dinner at one of the restaurants close to the old Castle, from where you will have access to one of the most iconic views in the world.

Ingrid reads, loves and travels. On her blog, IngridZenMoments, she shares with you all her learnings, be it advice on particular destinations, travel planning tips and tricks, “how” on living beautifully through positive thinking and tips on finding the hidden gems in different cities. She is aiming to encourage you to live beautifully by making time to travel, read and relax while inspiring you through incredible places shared with you as she discovers them.
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